Smithies puts ‘em to the sword

MANCHESTER evergreen Roger Smithies rolled back the years as he won the Royton Sword, courtesy of a best-of-the day 67 in the second round.

He added it to his opening 70 for a three-under-par aggregate and a five shot victory over in-form Ciaran Doherty who helped Lancashire beat Durham 12-6 in the Northern Counties League match at Preston 24 hours earlier.

The Bury man moved 290 points clear of Red Rose team-mate, Nelson’s Curtis Clarkin. in the Cleveland Srixon Northern Order of Merit – a title Smithies won 12 years ago – after posting rounds of 72 and 70 to beat Accrington’s Ian Hardman on countback.